Julljard



July 15, 1952 M. JULLIARD TYPE LEVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR EXTRA-LOW PQRTABLE TYPEWRITERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1948 M. JULLlARD Jul 15, 1952 TYPE LEVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR EXTRA-LOW PORTABLE TYPEWRITERS Filed July 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inf Mir M. JULLIARD July 15, 1952 TYPE LEVER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR EXTRA-LOW PORTABLE TYPEWRITERS Filed July 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheav 3 Patented July 15, 1952 NT 3 OFFICE TYPE LEVER ACTUATIN G MECHANISM FOR EXTRA-LOW l'E'ORTABLlE TYPEWRITERS Maurice Julliard, Paris, France Application July 24, 1948," Serial No. 40,501 V In France September 18, 1947 3 Claims.

The object of the present invention is a typewriter characterized essentially in that the linking devices between the keys corresponding to the various letters actuated by the operator and the pivoted type-carrying levers consist of strips arranged edgewise, flexible in a horizontal plane, some of which are rectilinear and others curvilinear, capable of sliding, with an eventual deformation, inside guides provided for this purpose.

Owing to this special arrangement of the linking devices, a machine can be obtained, having much smaller dimensions than the usual machines comprising rigid linking devices; particu larly a machine can be built, which is portable and has a width of only about 6 inches, and which can be held in one hand, the other hand being utilized only to operate the keys and to actuate'thewhole machine. An exception may be provided for the spacing key which is operated by the hand holding the machine.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a toothed rack at each end of the above mentioned linking devices, the keys'themselves being associated each with a toothed sector meshing with one of the above mentioned racks, the type-carrying levers themselves comprising each a toothed sector gearing with the other toothed rack of the above mentioned linking de vices.

In accordance with one variant more especially adapted to the above mentioned one-hand machine, the above mentioned linking devices are associated with one of the ends of the keys which the operator causes to slide horizontally instead of pushing them vertically as in the usual machines.

The invention also aims at other special arrangements which may eventually be utilized on machines of the usual type but which are all particularly designed for the above mentioned one-hand machine.

One of them consists in providing a transverse bar engaging in a notch provided in each of the linking devices between the keys and the typecarrying levers, which can slide parallel to itself in a substantially horizontal plane and which one or several springs constantly tend to bring back to its initial position, bringing back, also, the linking devices.

Another one consists in replacing the usual ribbon by a textile disc held between two discs of Bristol board or other material, of a smaller diameter; the disc which, like the ribbon is retracted after striking, is preferably mounted on spool which can be caused to unroll in front of the typing table. I

The various characteristics of the invention will be better understood by referring to thefollowing description of a particular type of embodiment illustrated in the appended drawing wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine ready to be enclosed;

. Figure 2 is a similar view of the machine ready to be operated; Y I

Figure 3 is a similar view, on an enlarged scale, of a type action. v

Figure 4 shows one variant and Figure 5 shows adetaiL' 3 Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of the near end of the machine of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a sliding key; and

Figure 7 is a section of the same taken on line 1-1 in Figure 6. r

The frame I of the machine shown comprises grooves 2 wherein can slide the linking devices between the keys 3 and the type-carrying levers 4; a rest rod 5 supports the type-carrying levers in their rest position (Figure 1) or in their positions of use (Figure 2) wider grooves 1 allow the sliding of the keys 3 associated in parallel displacement with the above mentioned linking devices.

Special keys 8 and 9 are provided for controlling the spacing and the capital letters, the spacing key 8 being capable of being operated by the thumb of the left hand which holds the machine.

A transverse bar [0, engaged in the notches I I (Figure 3) of the linking devices I2, is constantly biased by one or several springs and thus brings back the linking devices totheir initial positions after striking; this bar also controls the advance of the carriage l3.

Each one of these linking devices, consisting of a thin and flexible strip of metal, for instance, comprises at its front end a toothed rack 14,

which engages a pinion l5 pivotally mounted about the axis X-X and rotationally associated with the lever 4 carrying the types Hi.

In accordance with the variant shown in Figinstance; they comprise, at their centers, a square perforation 25 with slits 26 at each angle; this perforation is engaged on the pyramidal head 21 of a square section pawl which drives the inking disc is rotation and controls its retracting motion; a slight narrowing 28 of this pawl determines the position of the inking disc on said pawl.

A striking or typing table 29, in the shape of a sector, is associated for parallel motion with the carriage I3; the latter consists of a hollow cylinder containing a roll of paper 30, one end of which escapes through a longitudinal slot provided for this purpose and passes on to the typing table 29 against which it is pressed by the elastic fingers 31. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the

frame! has the deep slots 2 with the forward shallow extensions 1 as described; themovable key members 12 are long and form flexible key members slidable in slots 2 and having forwardly projecting guide members 33 extending into slot extensions 1. Upon the inner ends of guide members 33 are fixed the upwardly extending finger pieces 3 by which the keys may be horizontally slid forward as indicated in broken lines at 34 to provide the typing operation.

The invention also involves -a-device making it possible, owing to the feature of the free mounting of the type-carrying levers, to utilize thesystem described here for typing directly'on a draughtsmans table, copybook cr-the'iike, by eliminating the carriage of a machine similar to the one described here and attaching said machine on a suitable frame. In such a case, the -machine itself is displaced horizontally and vertically on the above mentioned frame.

.It must be understood that this type of embodiment of the invention has been described only by way of non-limitative example and that numerous'modifications may be effected within the scope of the present invention.

'What I claim is:

r 1. In a typewriter having a support, the combination of a plurality of manually operable keys mounted for sliding movement upon the support; a plurality of thin flexible strips secured to said keys and slidably movable therewith on said support; type levers pivotally mounted on said support and operable by said flexible thin strips upon movement thereof by said keys; and guide means for individually guiding said flexible thin strips upon said support in sliding movement and separating one strip from another.

2. In a typewriter having a support, the combination of a plurality of manually operable keys mounted for sliding movement upon the support; a plurality of thin flexible strips secured to said keys and slidably movable therewith on said support; type levers pivotally mounted on said support, a rack secured upon each of the flexible thin strips remote from the keys thereon; a pinion mounted on the pivoted end of each of said type levers to rotate therewith about the pivot mountings of the latter levers and meshing with the racks on the corresponding flexible thin strips; and guide means formed in the support including slotted portions for individually guiding and deforming said flexible thin strips during movement thereof and separating one strip from another.

3. In a typewriter having a support, the combination of a plurality of manually operable keys mounted for sliding movement upon the support; a plurality of thin flexible strips secured to said keys and slidably movable therewith on said support; type levers pivotally mounted on said support; a rack secured upon each of the flexible thin strips remote from the keys thereon; a pinion mounted on the pivoted end of each of said type levers to rotate therewith about the pivot mountings of the latter levers and meshing with the racks on the corresponding flexible thin strips, each of said flexible thin strips having an elongated notch therein and said support having a plurality of guide slots for seating and slidably guiding said flexible thin strips with consequent deformation of the latter during movement thereof in said guide slots; anda transversely disposed spring-biased bar engaging in the elongated notches of said flexible thin strips and effective to return the latter to initial position following each typing stroke.

MAURICE JULLIARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 585,918 Lewis July 6, 1897 1,062,371 Steele May 20, 1913 1,204,929 Ball Nov. 14, 1916 1,315,013 De Clamecy Sept. 2, 1919 1,841,112 Garbell Jan. 12, 1932 FOREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 246,270 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1947 346,464 Italy Feb. 17, 1937 

